Liverpool’s ongoing resurrection is the talk of Merseyside at the moment. The Reds headed into the 2025/26 Premier League season as the reigning champions and short-priced favourites to retain the crown after a summer spending spree that would have made Roman Abramovich’s Chelsea wince. However, a disastrous run of form throughout the autumn, consisting of six defeats in seven games, saw Arne Slot’s side fall out of contention.
Fast forward to February, and the Reds are enjoying somewhat of a renaissance. A run of one defeat in 12 since the end of November—albeit a run consisting of far too many draws—has seen Liverpool return to top four contention. The recent 4-1 home victory against Newcastle was arguably the club’s best performance of the season so far, and if that wasn’t enough, they are safely through to the round of 16 in the UEFA Champions League as well.
The World Cup Draws Near
But when the current season draws to a close, all eyes will turn away from Anfield and towards North America as Mexico, Canada, and the United States open their doors to 48 nations as they contest the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Between now and the June 11th opener in Mexico City, each Liverpool player will be doing their utmost to force their way into contention, and they aren’t the only ones.
The new Ozoon sports betting site will launch by the time the World Cup gets underway, and the budding new outlet is aiming to become a major player within the world of betting. It plans to bring fans closer to the beautiful game than ever before with unrivalled coverage of the planet’s biggest leagues and tournaments, and there are certainly none bigger than the World Cup. But which Reds are expecting to feature on the grandest stage for the first time ever? Let’s take a look.
Andrew Robertson
Left back Andy Robertson was just four years old the last time Scotland qualified for the World Cup. He probably doesn’t even remember John Collins’s famous equaliser against Brazil. But at Hampden Park last November, the former Hull City man was a crucial part of 28 years of hurt ending with one unforgettable contest.
Robertson stood in the tunnel on that Glasgow evening, knowing that Scotland simply had to beat favourites Denmark on home turf to secure their first berth on the global stage since France ’98. And in true Tartan Army style, chaos ensued. Scott McTominay’s bicycle kick, Kieran Tierney’s curler, and Kenny McLean’s scarcely believable halfway line strike were enough to seal a famous 4-2 victory and punch Scotland’s tickets to a trip across the pond.
At 32, this is Robertson’s only shot. There won’t be a 2030. Every trophy at Anfield—Premier League, Champions League, domestic cups—and yet this is the one that matters most. Scotland captain. Generational burden-carrier. Can he translate Anfield’s winning culture to a squad with zero tournament experience in nearly three decades?
Steve Clarke’s defensive system relies on Robertson’s attacking thrust from left wing-back, his leadership, and his ability to calm nerves when the moment gets too big. And moments don’t get much bigger than a group stage clash with Brazil, with a potential spot in the knockout stage on the line.
Jeremie Frimpong
Jeremie Frimpong was the very definition of a bench warmer in Qatar four years ago. In the squad but not trusted. Not a single minute while Denzel Dumfries played every match, right through to that ill-tempered quarter-final exit at the hands of Lionel Messi’s Argentina.
Frimpong was already one of Europe’s most explosive wing-backs at Leverkusen, but Louis van Gaal had his favourites, and that was that. Now it’s Ronald Koeman’s team, and everything’s different. That £29.5m Liverpool move last summer wasn’t just about replacing Trent Alexander-Arnold—it was validation.
Frimpong had helped Bayer Leverkusen to an invincible Bundesliga—DFB-Pokal double, 23 goals and 28 assists across 133 appearances of pure attacking menace. The Dutch kid born in Amsterdam who chose Oranje from the start: “I was born in the Netherlands, so for me it’s simple: I want to play for the Oranje.” No switching allegiances, no regrets, just waiting his turn.
But at a World Cup stacked with Dutch talent—Cody Gakpo, Ryan Gravenberch, Virgil van Dijk, all at Liverpool with him now—can Frimpong force his way into Koeman’s starting XI, or does he endure another tournament watching on as Inter’s Denzel Dumfries continues to play in his position? The pace is there. The technical quality is undeniable. But tournament football demands more than club form.
Hugo Ekitike
Four years ago, Hugo Ekitike had a handful of senior appearances at Reims and dreams that seemed distant. PSG came calling in 2022, but it was a modest return—four goals and four assists in a season where he was clearly just another body in the squad. Then goals galore in Frankfurt before Liverpool opened the chequebook. €80 million. Slot’s system. Suddenly, everything clicked. Now, he’s expected to lead France’s attack alongside Kylian Mbappe in North America.
He’s not the promising kid anymore; he’s one of Europe’s most dangerous forwards. November’s World Cup qualifier against Ukraine: Ekitike came off the bench with France leading 1-0 and announced himself to his compatriots with a stunning solo goal, which secured a dominant 4-0 win and World Cup qualification.
Les Bleus have reached the last two World Cup finals, winning the first in Russia before bowing down to Lionel Messi’s greatness in Qatar, despite an Mbappe hat trick. Now, Ekitike finds himself as the frontrunner to lead the French line, and the pressure is on to seal a third straight appearance in football’s biggest game.
